13 December 2001 Edition

RUC/PSNI harassment in mid-Ulster

Sinn Féin's mid-Ulster MP Martin McGuinness has heavily criticised the RUC/PSNI, who he accused this week of waging a campaign of harassment against Sinn Féin members in mid-Ulster.

McGuinness was speaking following revelations of an incident in Maghera, County Derry, in which an RUC/PSNI patrol stopped and questioned two Sinn Féin members as they left a shop in the town's Lower Main Street. While being held, they demanded to be told under what legislation the RUC/PSNI had detained them. The RUC/PSNI responded that they were holding the Sinn Féin members under the Prevention of Terrorism Act.

"This shows there was no reason for stopping these people other than petty harassment", stated McGuinness. "The actions of the RUC/PSNI in Maghera, as in recent days throughout the Six Counties, clearly shows that the they are engaging in a campaign of harassment against members of Sinn Féin."